What Christie is not likely to confess during Tuesday’s prime-time keynote speech are his sins of commission that continue New Jersey’s costly tradition of double-dipping — allowing government employees to “retire,” start collecting a pension and then return to work for the state, often the next day or week.

Christie gave his deputy chief a $10,000 annual raise this year, following New Jersey Watchdog’s report that Goetting had received$1.1 million in early retirement pay and severance packages from public coffers.

The 60 double-dippers receive an average of $165,000 a year — $73,517 from pension plus $92,461 in salary. Fifty-seven are state law enforcement officials who retired under a special law that allows them to receive full pensions after 25 years regardless of age. Twenty-eight retired while still in their 40s.

“I don’t have a problem with it at all,” Democratic state Sen. Fred Maddentold New Jersey Watchdog earlier this year. “You cannot be in your 60s and be a state trooper.”

“There’s a lot of positives to taking retirees that have strong resumes and a productive work experience and placing them in other public jobs,” said Madden. “You can cherry-pick the very best retirees available and put together a great team.”

In 24 cases, the “retired” employees started work at their new state jobs just one day after retirement from their previous positions. Sometimes, the only real change was two state checks instead of one.

The next day, Gilbert started his new position with the Division of Criminal Justice. His job: Commander of the Atlantic City Tourism District. In reality, Gilbert never changed duties or employers. Criminal Justice and State Police are divisionsof the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety.

The longstanding practice of gaming the state pension system has continued under Christie. Nineteen of the retiree-employees on New Jersey Watchdog’s list became double-dippers under his administration.

It should be noted Allen DelVento and Edward Fanelle were nominated, respectively, as members of the State Parole Board and Casino Control Commission by lame-duck Gov. Jon Corzine. After Christie took office, he did not withdraw their nominations or oppose their confirmations.

As a county sheriff in 2008, Guadagno made false statements to enable her chief officer to pocket nearly $85,000 a year in retirement pay while drawing an $87,500 annual salary. The double-dipping scheme first was reported by New Jersey Watchdog in 2010.

The investigation, requested by a state pension board, has been assigned to Criminal Justice, a unit where Guadagno once served as deputy director. Despite the apparent conflict, Christie has not appointed a special prosecutor.

Christie and Guadagno have declined comment. The Attorney General’s Office has not responded to questions.